<p>As my organization skills or lack of are beginning to crack I am reminded of my desire to not participate in such festivities. Cancel Christmas for 2012. Seriously. I know I'm not alone. & Once upon a time not too long ago I was reading the book of Esther (its a book in the bible about an ordinary Jewish girl who was chosen by the king to be his wife. She had great beauty. The king had an evil sidekick who wanted all Jews killed. Esther presented herself before the king punishable by death and told him she was a Jew saving all the Jews in her time). As I finished the story in chapter 9 I was surprised to read this: ch9:18+ The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the 13th & 14th, and then in the 15th they rested and made it  a day of feasting and joy. That is why rural Jews - those living in villages - observe the 14th of the month of Afar as a day of joy feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.... Mordecai told people to celebrate annually the 14th & 15th days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebratio. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.... [Missing a few verses]... The Jews took it upon themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe the two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews, nor should the memory of them die out among their descendants. </p>
<p>A few things stand out to me. Such as: making it a day for joy, feasting and giving presents. Being an annual celebration. Presents of food & gifts to the poor. </p>
<p>The days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family and in every province and in every city. The days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews. </p>
<p>This celebration resembles Christmas in that there's excitement & as others label it 'magic', expected happiness or joy. We eat. Lots. Planning & effort is put into the Christmas meal. It's the feasting part. Then there is the giving gifts part. Christmas is about giving of gifts. <br>
Joy, Feasting, Gifts.</p>
<p>The difference is that the Feast of Purim is a written and agreed upon annual celebration that should be remembered and observed without fail by every Jew in every place. </p>
<p>You might say "well I'm not a Jew I'm an Aussie". The bible uses the word Jew to describe His people. Jews & Gentiles. </p>
You might say its an old testament tradition or celebration so we don't have to do it anymore. Well it is an old testament feast but it also does not state to celebrate until the coming saviour arrives and stop. Jesus came to fulfill the law not do away with feasts & celebrations.
<p>I do think that this is a feast or celebration that should/could still be conducted today. Perhaps the 'message' is lost in regards to Queen Esther and her bravery but having our mourning turned into joy is not.
So there you have it. My belief. Try get your head around that!!
May you have a blessed day Xx
Eta: feast of Purim will be 8th March 2012
<p>A few things stand out to me. Such as: making it a day for joy, feasting and giving presents. Being an annual celebration. Presents of food & gifts to the poor. </p>
<p>The days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family and in every province and in every city. The days of Purim should never cease to be celebrated by the Jews. </p>
<p>This celebration resembles Christmas in that there's excitement & as others label it 'magic', expected happiness or joy. We eat. Lots. Planning & effort is put into the Christmas meal. It's the feasting part. Then there is the giving gifts part. Christmas is about giving of gifts. <br>
Joy, Feasting, Gifts.</p>
<p>The difference is that the Feast of Purim is a written and agreed upon annual celebration that should be remembered and observed without fail by every Jew in every place. </p>
<p>You might say "well I'm not a Jew I'm an Aussie". The bible uses the word Jew to describe His people. Jews & Gentiles. </p>
You might say its an old testament tradition or celebration so we don't have to do it anymore. Well it is an old testament feast but it also does not state to celebrate until the coming saviour arrives and stop. Jesus came to fulfill the law not do away with feasts & celebrations.
<p>I do think that this is a feast or celebration that should/could still be conducted today. Perhaps the 'message' is lost in regards to Queen Esther and her bravery but having our mourning turned into joy is not.
So there you have it. My belief. Try get your head around that!!
May you have a blessed day Xx
Eta: feast of Purim will be 8th March 2012
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